Hyderabad: Around 3,500 bank employees across Telangana joined a nationwide strike on Friday, demanding implementation of the five-day banking system and resolution of other pending issues.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) had called the nationwide strike to protest the delay in implementing the five-day banking system.
UFBU Telangana State Convener K. Anjaneya Prasad said around 3,500 employees across the State participated in the agitation. He addressed a programme at the State Bank of India’s main office at Koti.
During the programme, Prasad urged the State government and bank managements to address the employees’ long-pending demands. Besides shorter working weeks, unions sought recruitment to fill vacancies and resolution of employee grievances.
Five-day banking system among key union demands
Prasad said increasing workloads and staff shortages had placed considerable pressure on bank employees. Moreover, he said the shortage had affected the efficient delivery of banking services to customers.
The unions demanded early implementation of the five-day banking system. In addition, they sought measures to fill vacant posts across the banking sector. Prasad also called for strengthening public sector banks. At the same time, he opposed moves towards privatisation of those banks.
Employee unions also objected to the proposed Performance-Linked Incentive scheme. They argued that authorities should avoid policies that could create divisions among employees. Therefore, the unions urged the authorities to resolve what they described as legitimate demands of bank employees and officers.
Five-day banking system agitation may intensify
The UFBU announced nationwide meetings on September 28, 29 and 30 to discuss various issues affecting the banking sector. Furthermore, the unions warned of additional agitation programmes if authorities failed to address their demands. The five-day banking system remained a central issue raised during Friday’s strike.
All India Bank Employees’ Association member Rambabu participated in the programme at Koti. National Confederation of Bank Employees member Chandra Sekhar and others also attended. They expressed solidarity with the demands raised by bank employees during the nationwide agitation.